Groundwater in Hancock County contains arsenic, chloride, and fluoride. Arsenic exceeds EPA health standards and deserves attention, while chloride and fluoride are present at low levels.
Arsenic occurs naturally in the crystalline rock that lies beneath this county. As groundwater slowly moves through cracks and spaces in the rock over many years, it dissolves small amounts of arsenic. Chloride and fluoride also come from the rock itself, released as water passes through.
Groundwater in this county is soft, with low iron, sodium, and sulfate. The crystalline rock beneath Hancock County does not contain the minerals that make water hard, so calcium and magnesium stay low. These soft-water characteristics are common across wells throughout the county.
Arsenic is the main health concern in Hancock County wells. Arsenic is a poison that builds up in your body over time. Exposure to arsenic over many years can damage your kidneys, heart, and nervous system, and increases the risk of cancer. Your well water may contain arsenic at levels that pose health risks even though you cannot see, taste, or smell it.
The good news is that mineral levels in county wells are very low. Water hardness is soft, iron is minimal, and sodium levels are low. You should not experience staining, scale buildup, or taste problems from minerals in your water.
Testing your well is the only way to know if arsenic is present in your water and at what level. Every well is different, and your well could have higher or lower arsenic than what is common in the county. We recommend a comprehensive test that checks for arsenic and bacteria, which typically costs between one hundred and three hundred dollars. Arsenic can be removed with special filters or through a treatment method called ion exchange.
Not sure if your well is affected? Get certified results in 5–7 days.
Test Your Well Water with Tap Score →| Contaminant | Samples ⓘ | % Above MCL ⓘ | Distribution ⓘ | Confidence ⓘ | Risk ⓘ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arsenic | 2 | 50% | Low | High ⓘ | |
| Fluoride | 8 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| HFPO-DA (GenX) ⓘ municipal | 4 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| Nitrite | 2 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| PFOA ⓘ municipal | 4 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| PFNA ⓘ municipal | 4 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| Iron | 2 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| Chloride | 8 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| Lead | 2 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| Fluoride | 8 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| Chloride | 8 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| HFPO-DA (GenX) ⓘ municipal | 4 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| Iron | 2 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| Manganese | 2 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| Nitrate | 8 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| Nitrite | 2 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| PFHxS ⓘ municipal | 4 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| PFNA ⓘ municipal | 4 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| PFOA ⓘ municipal | 4 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| PFOS ⓘ municipal | 4 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| Sulfate | 8 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| Hardness | 8 | — | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| PFBS ⓘ municipal | 4 | — | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| pH | 4 | — | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| Sodium | 4 | — | Low | Low ⓘ |
MCL = Maximum Contaminant Level (EPA limit for public water; used as benchmark for private wells). Distribution shows % of sampled wells in each concentration band. Methodology.
* Microbial contaminants (E. coli, coliform) reflect only samples from the last 10 years.
Data shows potential risk — a certified test confirms whether your water is affected.
Order a Tap Score Test →Population-level CDC data. Not individual risk prediction.
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